The State Board of Education began issuing vouchers Thursday to the State Comptroller, paving the way for the new tier funding portion of the Evidence-Based School Funding formula. State Representative Avery Bourne and State Senator Andy Manar, who were each sponsors of the legislation in their respective houses, released separate statements Thursday praising the formula.

"This formula will fundamentally alter the way we fund our schools," said Representive Bourne, "and as a result, improve the lives of millions of schoolchildren throughout Illinois.

In his statement, Senator Manar said that the data we have now reinforces what we already knew, which is that there is astonishing unfairness in how school districts around Illinois are funded. According to Manar, Hillsboro will receive nearly $176,000 in new money under the formula. Litchfield will receive more than $326,000, Nokomis will receive more than $164,000, and the Panhandle School District will receive nearly $28,000.

Manar and Bourne each credited the staff at the state board of education for working with school districts and lawmakers for gathering the necessary data and distributing the amounts in April as promised.